MADERA – This weekend a blast from the past reopens in Madera for their spring and summer run. Something that only 18 other communities in California can say they have, we have had in Madera since 1948. Of course I am referring to the Madera Drive-In Theater on Lincoln Avenue two blocks off of Cleveland Avenue on Madera’s east-side.
The seventy-one year old theater has been owned since 1972 by the Gran family who also operate Madera’s indoor theater, Movies Madera, on North Gateway Drive. In the early eighties the Gran’s expanded the one screen El Rancho Drive-in, the oldest in the state of California, to the two screen theater it is today. Each screen offering two movies for the price of one.
At one time drive-in’s were known for running older movies or B-Features from directors like Roger Corman. The Madera Drive-In features first-run movies and this weekend they are presenting the number one movie in the country, Captain Marvel. That movie is playing with Disney’s latest flick, the live action Dumbo.
On the second side director Jordan Peele’s horror film ‘US’ plays first with the M. Night Shyamalan’s latest in the ‘Unbreakable’ (2000) series, ‘Glass’ starring Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson. These double features will cost adults (12 and older) $10 each and kids (4-11) $4 each. The drive-in only accepts cash in the box office and snack-bar.
Things you should bring with you for your comfort are lawn chairs, blankets, flashlights, and even coolers. Yes, coolers. The management does not mind if you bring in your own outside food or drink but if you do you will miss out on some of the best in drive-in fare. The Madera Drive-in offers all of the foods you would expect at any theater like popcorn, sodas, candy, hot dogs and nachos. But this drive-in also offers full pizza’s with all the toppings, corn dogs and churros. If you show up on Monday’s those corn dogs are only a dollar each.
While the old speakers you pull off the pole and place in your car windows are still available, the Madera Drive-in features a full digital presentation with stereo sound via your cars FM radio. Both sides of the theater have unique radio stations to tune into for the best sound ever. If you are worried about your car battery running down during the show, you can always bring a battery operated boom-box with an FM radio. My family uses an ION Tailgater available at Walmart or Amazon for around a hundred dollars. It has a thirty hour battery and will even charge your phone. If your car battery does run down, the drive-in can help you with a jump.
The box office opens at 6:30 pm and the shows start at DUSK. You are advised to show up early as this weekend there will be lines at the box office, plus you want to get the best spots on the lot. If you are driving a large vehicle like a truck or a van, you are asked to park towards the back as to not block other guest’s views. If you want to leave the vehicle in the back rows, you are free to set up your lawn chairs in any spots you want. On side-one, the best spots are the five spots right in front of the snack bar. Big Valley News’ best advice for anyone going out to the drive-in is order your pizza as soon as you park your car.
Take your family out for a little taste of the 50’s and 60’s Americana. This is a great place to meet up with old friends and family to share an evening under the stars, watching the stars.
